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I focus on good advice for bipolar disorder here, but whoah boy, have I also received some of the worst advice for bipolar disorder you can imagine. This advice has come from loved ones, natural medicine practitioners, and even a psychiatrist. However, just because the advice comes from someone you respect doesn't mean it's good advice. Here is some of the worst advice for bipolar I've ever received.
I've spent the vast majority of my life single. This is not to say that I haven't had lovers and other fabulous people in my life, but in terms of being in actual boyfriend/girlfriend relationships (or girlfriend/girlfriend relationships, for that matter), my life has been pretty lacking. I've always believed it's better to be with no one rather than the wrong one.
However, one psychiatrist (yes, he was an old, white guy) told me I wouldn't be depressed if I just got a boyfriend. I was about 21 at the time, but even then, I recognized this as thA worst piece of advice about bipolar disorder.
There have been years of my life when I've been desperate for an effective treatment because simply nothing was working (two doctors have given up on me over the years). It was during these times when I've been most susceptible to the worst pieces of advice for bipolar disorder, like this one: cleanse your aura. In fact, I even went through an aura cleansing session. I cried for most of it. It might have just been an outpouring of desperation.
I get really frustrated with all the people who tell those with bipolar disorder that it must be something in their diet causing their symptoms. While people can be intolerant to certain foods — no doubt — that's not something that suddenly happens when you're 25, for example.
In one case, I saw an iridologist. That's a person who looks at your eyes and supposedly can then diagnose what's wrong with you. Of course, this is bunk, but my mother twisted my arm into this one. At the time, natural practitioners were blaming everything under the sun on yeast (now, it's gluten), so everyone who saw them was told to go on a "yeast kill" diet. This removes sugar, carbs, and a bunch of other stuff from your diet. I was also given the most disgusting tinctures to consume. Of course, this did nothing except annoy me as I could eat nothing from a restaurant.
Another time, I was told that someone in Toronto could "cure" bipolar disorder through natural means (my mother had a part in this one, too). I talked to this guy on the phone, to much expense, and he told me to drink fresh carrot juice every day and take a whack of herbs, roots, etc. This did nothing, shockingly, and when I followed up with Mr. Expensive, he told me that my problem was that I had engaged in sex before marriage. It was at that point I hung on that worst piece of bipolar advice.
There is a field known as orthomolecular medicine. And while I know "medicine" is in the title, trust me, no actual medicine is involved. It's a vestige of 1970s weirdness, and it has been widely disproven. Don't doubt that someone will tell you to do it, though. This field tends to use giant amounts of vitamins and minerals to "treat" bipolar disorder. Don't do this. This is mostly pointless but can actually be dangerous. This is another worst piece of bipolar advice.
While I've covered some of the worst pieces of advice for bipolar disorder that I've personally heard, they are far from the only ones. And I really want you to avoid these kinds of traps, so please remember this:
If alternative medicine worked, we'd call it something else. We'd call it medicine.
Remember, when an alternative practitioner tells you that something has been "practiced for years," and that's why you should try it, just remember, we did lots of things for years — like use leaches and induce insulin comas — before we knew better. Just because some tiny group of people does it, that doesn't mean it's a good idea for you.
Please, please, please, before you start on a course of kudzu root or start howelling at the moon, require medical proof that it works. And by medical proof, I mean actual double-blind, placebo-controlled studies — not anecdotes or random shit printed off the internet. And if you're still unsure, seek your doctor's opinion. A doctor may not be able to endorse certain things, but they can review the evidence and make an educated recommendation. They can also warn you of harm that other people may have obscured. And remember, draining your bank account is, indeed, harm. (I could also argue that getting your hopes up in response to bullshit is also harm, but that's me.)
But tell me, what's the worst piece of bipolar disorder-related advice you've ever received? Warn others below.
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Natasha Tracy is an award-winning writer, speaker, advocate, and consultant from the Pacific Northwest. She has been living with bipolar disorder for 26 years and has written more than 2000 articles on the subject.
Find more of Natasha’s work in her acclaimed book: "Lost Marbles: Insights into My Life with Depression & Bipolar" on Amazon.
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A Harvard psychiatrist is pushing ketogenic diet for bipolar and schizoaffective since it apparently was an evidence-based treatment for some time for epilepsy and found it addressed symptoms in patients that were on it to lose weight. He still treats them with meds and is apparently doing clinical trials. Keto has been in the news as not good for long term health though.
Thanks Natasha for another good article! Reading it and the comments, I realized I haven’t been really affected by bad advice… certainly because I haven’t shared my diagnosis with anyone but my mom. Although, when I was suffering from depression, I went against her advice to skip psychiatry treatment (she was believing faith alone would suffice). Well, am I glad I sought treatment anyway! I still believe in God by the way, but it’s not an excuse to refuse medication and other types of medical help. I’m still here because God led me to the right doctor who led me to the right medication. Today, I’m not healed but I’m a high-functioning bipolar person :)
Well said. In my case, if it wasn’t for God’s guidance (SEE: “Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” ~ Psalm 23), I wouldn’t be here, now nearing 80 years old. It seems I was doing bipolar “stuff” several decades before I was diagnosed.
How a foolish young man (me) flying a trainer aircraft almost bought the farm in 1966.
https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/general-discussion/interesting-hair-raising-humorous-or-otherwise-unusual-experiences/msg388/#msg388
Natasha Tracy is 100% right that there is way too much bad advice to “mental patients” like us, never mind the frustratingly condescending attitude with which it is often insensitively delivered.
People say you can control your thoughts. People say be grateful make a gratitude list.
I only have told a few friends of the bipolar 1,
MDD, anxiety disorder I wish I wouldn’t have.
I have one friend who has bipolar 2 I wish I would have only kept it between her and I . For me I seem to have a problem with over sharing. Also I was. Diagnosed with MTHFR gene mutations which is supposed to be why I have all this and if I will just take the Enlyte supplements my Psychiatrist wants me to take I won’t get worse. Anyone else hear of that one before? I have been on fence about it for years.
i was asked what do i have to be depressed about OR snap out of it!!
I’m always being told exercise will cure it because “studies have shown it’s just as effective as medication.” I was a professional fitness instructor when I got diagnosed. Today I walk outside 30 minutes to an hour a day. It helps like an aspirin for a bullet wound. I do it for my health, not my bipolar.
This is an excellent article. I have been told to come off my meds by my family as they said I could use willpower. Saw a bunk psychiatrist once who told me to do volunteer work which I had done a lot of already. Seen orthomolecular being pushed and some people doing ok on it while hearing other ghastly online stories through ex-Scientology folk
I live in the bible belt of the south so I have heard this one multiple times…If you are depressed then you need to pray about it.
Had friends suggest I take lots and f perticualy vitamins and supplements. As well as their natural medicine practitioner. Which of course would not be covered by my insurance. I tried some of the advice in vulnerable times. Thank goodness they did not harm that I know of. And I didn’t follow the stop my meds I was “addicted” to according to said people, suggesting the mass doseges of vitamins and supplements.
Psychiatrist told my sibling to get a job and a hobby. How with 42 voices directing her steps.
Happy New Year, Natasha.
I was once told to watch comedies, as they would put me in a better mood!
That in itself is pretty funny… and ridiculous.
I went to see a very funny comedian live and didn’t laugh at all. Might have grinned once. I went to see another very funny comedian at the same place a year later and laughed my head off. There’s just a tiny possibility (sarcasm) that I was low during the first one. Kind of debunks the advice you were given :-)
Very good points. I guess I’m lucky. I haven’t really received very much bunk advice regarding my bipolar disorder. Most of the people who I’ve come in contact with somewhat understand that it’s brain chemistry gone amok. But then there are lots of people who don’t believe that I’m disabled. They all think I’m lazy, and that hurts. Thanks for another good article.